Windows Phone boss Andy Lees sees the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile operating system as the answer to big problems facing iOS and Android, the two most popular mobile operating systems on the planet. In an interview with The Seattle Times, Lees pitched Windows Phone 7.5 — affectionately known as “Mango” — as the answer to consumers’ prayers. “Over the next 12, 18, 24 months, I can see a lot of stars lining up,” Lees said of Microsoft’s emerging mobile platform. Read on for more.

Where Google and Apple are failing, Microsoft is excelling according to Lees, Microsoft’s president of the Windows Phone division. Regarding the iPhone and iOS, Lees says Apple’s latest handset gives Microsoft a gap to fill. “I think, from an end user’s experience on the software, there’s a lot of interesting reviews written comparing us to iOS 5 and the amount that we’ve got done in 11 months — so some people (are) making comparisons of pace,” Lees responded when asked if Apple missed an opportunity with the iPhone 4S. He continued, “From a pure hardware perspective, I was surprised they’re not giving the consumer more choice. People want a variety of different things.”

Where Android is concerned, Lees suggests that the consistency of the Windows Phone experience is the answer to Android’s chaos. “I think Android is heading down this chaotic phase,” Lees said when The Seattle Times asked about the variety of Android devices heading into the holiday season. “We want to enable OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), we want to enable operators, but we don’t want chaos.”

“If you’ve used some of the (Android) phones, some of them are great, but some of them are not great,” the Windows Phone boss continued. “But it’s random. And it feels like, with some of them, that you’ve had several cooks in the kitchen trying to bake different things with the same thing. Whereas we have much more coherency in the totality of what somebody gets when they buy our phone.”

Lees also noted in the interview that we can expect Windows Phones covering a wide range of price points this holiday season, with some even reaching below the $100 mark. The executive confirmed that we can expect 4G Windows Phones in the near future as well.

I know. Such a tired argument. The market has spoken! People want every device to look, feel, and work exactly the same as everyone else’s! Wait….no Android continues to dominate.

http://twitter.com/majankajan majankajan

wp7 has specs as my thick TV……………….. Microsoft’s statement as is always innovative. They are the patent trolls….

Anonymous

,, a must see ,

my best friend’s mom makes 77$ an hour on the computer. She has been out of job for
9 months but last month her check was 7487$ just working on the computer for a few hours. Read about it here goo.gl/syatb

@bopondeez:disqus Android only leads market share in recent sales. Market share in browser usage is based on ALL DEVICES IN USE, not just recent sales. In that train of thought, iOS leads. For every 1 person I know with an Android (via corporate, church, community, family, friends, etc.), I know 3 iOS users, whether they have the iPhone 2G, 3G, 3GS, or 4. Android is growing more on new smartphone users and existing BlackBerry users. iOS has a high retention rate and could grow even more once everyone sees the letdown that will be Ice Cream Sandwich. Got it on my unlocked Nexus S and find nothing compelling beyond the Honeycomb-ish lipstick. But that bitch is still ugly on the inside.

Anonymous

@trollCall:disqus Well my iPhone 4 must have had its magic pixie dust rubbed off on the way from Shenzen because it sits in my bag most of the day..

Anonymous

Android is hands down dominating. Did you not see the latest reults from CommScore? I can put it in simpler terms if you cant understand it – Android market share is DOUBLE IOS market share. LOL Android’s market share increased 5.6 points to 43.7% during the three month period ending in August. iOS grew 0.7 points to a 27.3% share during the same period

Anonymous

@xstnca:disqus your numbers aren’t representative of what comScore’s MobiLens analytics identify as “Mobile Installed Base,” which shows numbers of existing users of the mobile platforms capable of using apps, not just a 3-month market share of the US that narrowly, NARROWLY identifies the true performance of each platform from a more realistic perspective. Your numbers are accurate per that 3-month scale, but, in terms of EXISTING users, iOS LEADS. Your numbers only identify US-ONLY smartphone users who have the choice of Android on every major carrier, regional carriers and MVNO’s. To date, the iPhone has only available on Verizon and AT&T, with Verizon gaining fewer than expected because many made it a point to wait for a new iPhone announcement before getting one. With over 1 million pre-orders in less than 24 hours, those numbers will only increase once its available in China, on Sprint, and if any T-Mobile users decide to plunk down full price for the unlocked 4S. But again, YOU were only talking about the US numbers. Apple doesn’t only compete in the US. Find a globe, pause … that’s where Apple competes. Let it marinate.

Anonymous

@Celz:disqus that’s your prerogative and more power to you if you are satisfied elsewhere. Good day. Good luck.

http://twitter.com/GRZLA Grizzly Atoms

I love fragmentation. If you buy a phone with low specifications, don’t expect updates. New OS=new requirements. It has been that way since software has been around. Welcome to technology.

This is now not only an Android issue though. iPhone 4 will not get Siri, that seems like fragmentation to me. It is only a matter of time before it hits WP7 as well.

Anonymous

iPhone 4 won’t be able to “render Infinity Blade Two in full capacity”. Not optimized… I’m so lost.

That being said, I wish Google would incorporate something like Chainfire 3D natively into Android.

“iPhone 4 won’t be able to “render Infinity Blade Two in full capacity””

Read my first, then troll my young grasshopper..

Anonymous

Fragmentation is 17 different screen resolutions and 7 different screen sizes, 4 different “skins”, 5+ OEM’s. Apple has none of this. The worst fragmentation they have is the two different screen resolutiions on the 3GS and 4/4S.

And that’s the only way the future will see one O/S embedded into any type of device you can think of that allows your washing machine to talk to your dryer, or your home CPU.
iO/S will never be able to do this.
Android can.

Anonymous

If you really believe Android will magically appear on all devices and all talk to one another… look know further than Amazon. Smart companies will eventually start using the core of Android, but splinter it, and Google will have no incentive to support it.

Google-supported Android is merely a vehicle to make sure Google has assured access to mobile searches and the ad revenue that it generates.

Anonymous

LOL do you also think we should all drive one car in one color or you should have to wear the same clothes every day? Its not fragmentation is choice and DOMINATION. Why is it you think the outdated IOS is losing marketshare and Android is gaining? Because people dont want outdated technology in one flavor. They want what is best. Here is the updated comcsore and you can google it if you want from any OS. Android’s market share increased 5.6 points to 43.7% during the three month period ending in August. iOS grew 0.7 points to a 27.3% share during the same period

Anonymous

@yahoo-VCBEBTYM2XLKT7WBH4OWJ5QUZ4:disqus with iOS, you can manage home alarm systems and unlock/lock car doors from miles away, for FFS. How do you figure it will never be able to talk to a washing machine or dryer (which is really a waste of programming talent)?

http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

Fragmentation is not when a 16 month phone doesnt do what the brand new one does.

Fragmentation is a 3-6 month android phone not getting an upgrade after a year, if ever. Fragmentation is having to get a new phOne twice a year to get an OS update to run the already limited app selection.

But most of all fragmentation is having to heavily mod and nerd your phone to even get it to work.

Therefore, fragmentation = android.

Plazmic Flame

truth right there…

Anonymous

I generally agree with what you’re saying, but my problem with Apple fan boys is you guys refuse to admit that the Nexus series is a viable option to avoid fragmentation on Android. I have a Nexus One. I’ve had it since it was released on AT&T back in March of 2010. It was the first with Éclair, the first with Froyo, the second by a month to receive Gingerbread and could very well receive Ice Cream Sandwich. Without Ice Cream Sandwich that’s nearly two years of support—not 3-6 months. The Nexus was released on T-Mobile first in January 2010, so I can confidently say that the phone has received 22 months of support from its initial release. That’s damn good. Especially considering at the time it offered something the 3Gs didn’t—a larger, higher resolution, color saturated, AMOLED screen, a 1 GHz processor and a thinner design.

When it’s Google who’s supporting your phone, I will always stand by Android being the better option over iOS. The performance of my N1 has always been superb—very smooth experience.

Ice Cream Sandwich and the Nexus Prime are going to make things very interesting. Its performance will speak for itself, and you Norm, will only be left with a bag full of canned responses that have no validity in the world of Nexus. Troll on.

Anonymous

@Jmax

I agree with a lot of what you said. A lot of it!

The only thing Android really lacks in reference to the Nexus line is an ecosystem. My iPhone syncs perfectly with my iTunes, which works perfectly with my AppleTV, which streams all my content to my TV. It all just works…

If I ever were to go Android, it would be a Nexus.

zacamandapio

Spot on!!!!
Bravo.

Anonymous

Fragmentation is not rooting your device.

Anonymous

The real norm came out to play wow Im impressed.. Even though it’s BS.. What 3-6 month old phone didnt get an upgrade after a year? and did Marty McFly go Back to the Future with you to check the yearly update on a phone that just came out 3-6 months ago?? Is that even possible??

Anonymous

Oh my. I stopped visting BGR and YOU were a HUGE reason why. I can’t believe you’re still at it.

Anonymous

So Wimpy7s is the ‘Google+’ to Android’s ‘Facebook’?

Tony Wirz

The argument is not fragmentation at all. The argument is that devices are pumped out every week with such a wide range of specs, with some devices getting no support and no updates. Also, motoblur, sense, touchwiz and other overlays that hinder performance on under powered devices and leave high end phones months behind on updates due to those same customizations.

I love android, but this article is not false. It does make sense. WP7 offers handset variety that android has, but the consistent performance and environment that makes apple successful. If they could get some mind share with the consumers they could eventually be the number 2 behind android.

Spoken Word™

I’m not sure what they’re smoking over at the campus in Redmond, but I want a hit!

Guest

Why? What did he say that was incorrect?

http://www.brainlazy.com Phawx

Great, now just get more than one phone on Sprint and I would honestly consider going to WP7. As it is, I’m a part of the group that is looking for 4.5″+ screens.

Is the HTC Titan coming to Sprint? If not, yet another year on Android.

Also, I’m looking for a gaming phone. So if MS got on the stick a produced a phone with those interchangable parts, I’m all for that as well.

My point is: It’s hard to swallow WP7 with such limited choices on CDMA networks.

Eric Bodrero

same boat. i’m waiting for Verizon to announce a WP7 with a larger screen. if they do and it comes out this year, i think i’ll jump on the windows wagon. i’m due for an upgrade right now!

bigbossman

To be fair, the HTC Trophy is really a great phone. Droid Incredibles better-looking cousin

Anonymous

I have the Arrive and I too would more options. Sprint get it together. We know you LOVE Android and the iPhone has you star gazed but don’t overlook Windows Phone as a viable option.

By innovate you mean wait for Apple to come out with something new so Samsung and motorola can copy it?

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NOCGF4INNLYCJEREG3YUPZEF7Q Randy

and apple copies nothing from android???

somedude0123

Oh wow, Apple copied the notification system developed by Google – and Google copied everything else and did it worse. I’ll take Apple FTW.

zacamandapio

Unfortunately nowadays every company copies a different company.
Sad :( but true :).

Anonymous

Funny how Samsung can copy Apple when they make the components..

Anonymous

They make some components. It’s not like Apple buys an off the shelf product and stamps a logo on it.

Anonymous

@Pendergast:disqus So you think Samsung made all of these fast chips and high quality displays with no intention of using them themselves? Or do you mean notification shades, messenger platforms, voice commands or any other feature I had last year?

Anonymous

There’s a Minimum Requirement you have to meet to make a WP7 phone that’s all. Unlike Android, where you have good phones, and big pile of crap phones! MS has been doing this with PC’s for years. You have to meet the Minimum requirements for the OS your going to sell with that PC. You get less fragmentation, especially when WP7 is getting updated on all phones like for iphones, but on the hardware it’s self. You don’t end up with the jumble mess that is Android. MS is kind of in the middle of iOS and Android. Not so called Fully Open, but not so called Fully closed either. Kind of best of both worlds. Wither people will really start buying them at some point, who knows.

http://twitter.com/mbcls ask me

““If you’ve used some of the (Android) phones, some of them are great,
but some of them are not great,” the Windows Phone boss continued. “But
it’s random. And it feels like, with some of them, that you’ve had
several cooks in the kitchen trying to bake different things with the
same thing”

but at least i go to android restaurant to eat! wp7 restaurant? their foods just doesnt interested me! what i saying is how exciting can you get with those stupid tiles?

Anonymous

From your post alone, I know to not take you seriously. I understand why you’re an Android user.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NOCGF4INNLYCJEREG3YUPZEF7Q Randy

what i saying is. lol

Anonymous

Yeah because we all know tiles spilled all over the phone is so exciting! It’s more than just the tiles and the tiles are more than just plain icons.

jay_max

I’m actually going to move from Android to WP7 when my device is due to be replaced. I’ve been generally happy with Android, but I’m finding that I enjoy WP7 more.

Guest

I’m planning on doing the same from iOS.

m.e.n

“”as the answer to consumers’ prayers.”””

what consumers are those? what a joke…

Anonymous

I hope Microsoft does continue to develop Windows Phone at a quick pace. I personally think the Metro UI is ugly and boring, but the competition Microsoft can offer to Android and Apple is great for all users of smartphones. A smartphone market with only two players could stagnate quickly.

Devon Garner

And you find a grid of icons exciting!! Hmm, Not saying the WP7 is the best but it is different and it does seem alive from what I have seen. Tiles flipping, pictures changing on the screen, seems a little more exciting than finding icons to press. Just my thoughts but competition is good and I hope they all keep going forward.

Mark Francis

” I personally think the Metro UI is ugly and boring”

You do realize that the Metro UI is more than the tiles and live tiles. Metro runs thru the whole OS including how you design the apps. If you think that Metro is ugly and boring try IMDB or Weather Channel app, oh wait that means that you would have to have pickup the phone try it, so don’t bother.

http://profiles.google.com/mediogringo Dan Carter

I hope he’s right. I like Mango, but I find the features sorely lacking compared to Android – even if it is way easier to use. But I think that WP7 does combine two of the most compelling aspects of Android of iOS: the hardware choice of Android and the software consistency/slickness of iOS.

http://twitter.com/urkle91 Urkle91

Microsoft never innovates anything, I’ll give android this, they took the template that apple built and made things better. Microsoft, ever since we had anything named a personal computer has been stealing, but i guess when you are a company guy you have to make ridiculous statements.

Aj

Who had live tiles before MS?

Anonymous

Who else does Facebook, Twitter and Linked In right in your contacts not needing to open an app or browser? Who is else is doing anything like Windows Phone and Kinect connectivity?

Anonymous

I’d say of the competitors to iOS, MS took the most innovative approach.

Anonymous

Actually, Windows thinks their lawyers are the solution to Android’s popularity and they’re not even bothering to compete against iOS.

Other than that, I’m sure his words are useful.

Anonymous

Did you not take from their comments that they are competing against iOS?

Anonymous

Maybe Google should have paid more attention to the IP they were stepping in. Or, not blatantly ignored it (see Google’s emails regarding Java).

Anonymous

In my opinion, Windows Smart Phone is as much as a misnomer as “Smart Car”.

Lawrence of Arabia

lol

Anonymous

Microsoft:
-We have the answer to the iPhone and Android… next year
-We have the best platform for developers… next year
-People want a variety of different things and Apple missed an opportunity… 1 million preorders on the first day and long lines expected on launch day to buy whatever is left. What a missed opportunity.
-We have a variety of good devices and choices… next year
-We will sell phones at a variety of prices points… ?
-Some android phones are great but some are bad… Sort of like most of our phones

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NOCGF4INNLYCJEREG3YUPZEF7Q Randy

cant argue with anything you wrote. exactly right. next year? ha, the iphone5 will be out at some point and El Goog will have ICS figured out and SoftMicro will be a year behind again.

Anonymous

you are clearly a fanboy… long lines of people waiting is only a marketing ploy.
this people are fanboys and as such dont even realize they are being used for marketing purposes, no other company will put up something as shitty as a queue to sell you their product. its disrespectful.

Bringit

He is correct about Android phones being messy crap, I’ll give him that.

Anonymous

you and Norm are the biggest losers on this site….oh wait there is scroat as wellhehe

Bringit

That makes you the biggest follower and commenter to the losers.

Anonymous

says the biggest troll of them all…when i go to read a post in the comment section your always here giving out your iCrap..hence why i say the things i do about you…why so hate for something that is really nothing important to you cause you dont get no gain from it..apple does not pay you..you dont get any royalties or bonuses from the sales so why such anger towards android and google stuff….not just you but to all the other muppets who have arguments about this…its just silly….but yet again we are talking about BGR here so sorry buddy you keep trolling away

Anonymous

I just laughed when I read that comment at first I thought I had misread it. What planet is this guy on? I love both my iPhone and my Android tablet!

Anonymous

ATTN: Microsoft
Ditch the 8-Bit graphics and polish WP7. Adding things like gradients will go a long way.

Windows 8 has made Metro a little more appealing, but as it stands, I’m not going to buy Xbox 360 to play original Mario. I know WP7 has Xbox Live and great gaming titles. This isn’t what my analogy is pointing at. WP7s have great hardware, only to show off a lack-luster UI. iOS has a very polished UI—always has. Android has finally done it with Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich.

I like the tiles. Just make them appealing to the eye. Yes, I understand you can customize the tiles with applications, but make them appealing out of the box. Make the interface brilliant, not dull.

Anonymous

if MS would’ve released a bunch of bright colorful icons the discussion would be about how MS is copying Apple and Android even though colorful icons on a grid has been done for years. MS took a good, bold step IMO by going with the live tiles. If you are looking colorful and bright they have that as well. It’s really not about the icons itself. It’s about the mesh of the entire OS. Look at the things Mango brought along. Multitasking on WP is faster than iOS and Android, FB, Twitter and Linked-in right in the contacts not needing to leave to get into an app and Local scout and search functions again not needing to get into an App or the browser.

Hapki5000

Hey dip shit! Facebook and twitter is integrated into contacts. If you ever bothered to pick up a htc, or samsung smart phone you would’ve known it.

Anonymous

Excuse me? Yes Windows Phone has Facebook and Twitter integrated into contacts. You never said if you were talking Android or not. Also whats with the name calling e-Bitch?

Jame

I have used iOS and Android devices and my last WinMo phone was a 6.5 device. I do remember having to do hard resets on my WinMo phone at times. I do hope the platform has improved since then. I do like the stability of iOS but I don’t like the fact that Apple wants you to go through the App store if you want to install something. It’s my phone and if I want to jailbreak or unlock it, they should not get in my way. I’m on Android now and I do like how you can customize the phone. I don’t like the quality of the apps. They feel homebrewed compared to the apps on iOS. there are also compatibility issues with some apps. It’s really a matter of preference.

http://www.twitter.com/wixostrix WixosTrix

” I do remember having to do hard resets on my WinMo phone at times. I do hope the platform has improved since then.”

I used to go through the same thing with WM. I’ve had my Samsung Focus for a little over 7 months and I haven’t had to hard reset at all. I even unofficially got the NoDo and Mango beta updates. Go the Mango update, officially, the day it was released and it’s been smooth sailing the whole time.

Anonymous

I have the same story as WixosTrix except I have the Arrive on Sprint. I had the Touch Vogue which was a very stable phone and I expected my jump to the Touch pro 2 to be just as stable. I was wrong. the form factor was awesome but WM6.5 ran like crap on it. Resets every other day, slow, Custom ROMs and Official ROMs all Sucked! Windows Phone is nothing like WM. I’ve had my phone since March and not one reset was needed due to issues (really only updates or battery drained). The OS is Smooth, stable and very intuitive. You should give it a try. If you think iOS is stable which it is you will also think WP is stable.

Applesucksfatties

Will the new Windows phones be coming with the complimentary “blue screen of death”?

Anonymous

1999 wants it’s joke back.

somedude0123

2011 wants it’s current problem back.

Anonymous

No your mom want’s my ….err NM. :p

All kidding aside. The last Blue-Screen I saw on my laptop or any of my computers at home was related to an external Hard Drive that had gone bad. That was the only Blue Screen I saw on Vista BTW. on W7 I’ve yet to see a blue Screen on any of my 5 home systems. Yes I have 5, HTPC, upstairs gaming system, downstairs Photography business PC, My Laptop, My Wife’s laptop and my Son’s Desktop.

Applesucksfatties

ouch Pookie… don’t hate. I have love for Microsoft… although there are days where I’d love to take Microsoft Office and shove it straight up Bill Gates’s arse.

Anonymous

I’m not hating and sorry you feel that way but man that joke is tired.

Guestie

Nice trolling headline there Zach…

http://twitter.com/Ether813_IX Ian Ximinies

Until i see WP7 and 4G LTE in the same sentence, working together, i really dont care about WP7

Ashleigh

I’m starting to feel the same way about no LTE + IOS

Anonymous

Good luck Microsoft

Keymaker

Yeah Andy but there’s a problem, Google is aware of the issues and has been working on it for sometime. Microsoft had it’s days and blew it, even though I’m a iOS guy Google will be #1 and iOS #2, little room for microshit.

http://www.TheGuruReview.net TGR

I have an iphone and will not be getting another one. I may get the HTC Titan if Nokia keeps playing games.